Egbert Vander Kooi - Family Hero #2 (cont.)

Fort Knox is where Uncle Eg’s assignment to the Armored Division begins with being assigned to the 8th armored unit. On September 27, 1943 he joined the 775th Tank Battalion. He would make the 775th his “home” until his discharge following the end of the war. Training with the 775th occurred in both Louisiana and California. On May 28, 1944, he shipped out toward war and first landed at Oro Bay New Guinea on June 20, 1944. He crossed the Stanley Mountains in support of the 32nd Division (the Red Arrow Division from Michigan and Wisconsin) and remained in New Guinea until just before Christmas 1944. We do not know any details about his time in New Guinea, but I recently read a book about the 32nd Division entilted "The Ghost Mountain Boys". This was jungle fighting at its worst. It was a long horrendous battle against the Japanese to win victory in the jungles of New Guinea.

He landed on the beach at Luzon Philippines Christmas Day 1944. This must have been a rather unusual way to celebrate Jesus birth. In the Philippines, it appears that Egbert was initially in almost constant battle. The 775th tank battalion was once again assigned to the 126th Infantry Regiment, 32nd Division. [Ironically, the 126th Inf. Reg. was the unit that my great Uncle Herman Bartels fought and died with during WWI]. The tanks and infantry worked together to attach the Japanese defending the mountains of Northern Luzon. In his three page “Military History” he writes “Was assigned to the 32nd Inf. Regt. Worked with all three Battalions (1st, 2nd & 3rd) in the mountains of Northern Luzon. Killed a lot of Nips and knocked out a lot of their equipment. Gave the Nips the surprise of their life by bringing a tank on a high hill where the infantry was pinned down. Did a good job and saved a lot of Dough Boys.”
I need to pause here a moment. Although he took a few minutes to write down some facts in this brief paragraph, he seems to write without emotion. This had to be a tremendously tough act of bravery, and yet he makes it sound like just another day. The fact that he was a modest and reserved man is demonstrated here. This was my Uncle Egbert’s short account of this battle. However, I am thankful that a newspaper article remains also giving an account of this portion of the horrific battle that occurred in Luzon early in 1945. The article helps capture the brave actions he took to come to the aid of his fellow soldiers who were in a desperate situation.

The following is the exact text from a copy of the 1945 newspaper article. The original was tattered & yellowed and a few words are missing. The publication and exact date is unknown.

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The 775th Tank Battalion trained with live ammunition in the Luzon (Philippine) swamps, also trained in the New Guinea jungle. They are (now) blasting Nips in Northern Luzon and the infantry called them “mountain goats.” They scale the razorback ridges at which even the jeeps jibe. (The tanks) crash their own roads through trees and boulders and flirt with precipices from which they look down on the artillery’s grasshopper plains.
Lt. Egbert J. Vander Kooi of Zeeland, a platoon leader won the Bronze Star medal along with 3 crew members of one of _____ for an exploit in the Luzon Mountains. The infantry company that they were attached was held up by Jap strong points on the next ridge, 600 yards away. Artillery and mortar fire had no effect on the dug in Japs.
The infantry commander did not think a tank could climb the ridge, but Lt. Vander Kooi obtained his permission to try. With the lieutenant leading the way on foot, scouting a route, the tank inched and twisted up the ridge, nosing over trees and around boulders and skidding perilously at times on loose soil and rock.
Under intense sniper, machine gun, mortar and artillery fire all the way, the tank gained the crest and blasted the Jap pillboxes with point blank fire and made it possible for the infantry to cross the valley and take the ridge.
(to be continued)

Egbert Vander Kooi - Family Hero #2

Egbert J Vander Kooi (Uncle Eg to me) is pictured on the left above in this army uniform in 1946. He was one of my mother’s younger brothers. Egbert was born to Johannas & Bertha (Baukje) Vander Kooi on November 23, 1918, just 12 days after the end of WWI. Johannas & Bertha both came to the United States from the Netherlands in 1903 and 1889 respectively. My grandpa was 22 and my grandma just 9 when they arrived in our great country. I don’t know a great deal about Egbert’s early life. However, it is known that my mother, Egbert and their siblings grew up on a farm that was heartbreakingly lost during the great depression. That was not all that of an uncommon event during the 1930’s. However, Egbert’s youngest brother Dave (pitchered above on the right) says it was really the hand of God as the farm where they moved had much richer soil that gained them a higher crop yield. The house however was smaller.

Egbert and Dave were very good friends of my father and his brother Tony Bartels. Every Saturday night the 4 of them would go to the Colonial Theater in Holland to see a movie and the newsreels of the war in Europe. After the show they would go to the very first Russ’ Restaurant to get chocolate milk and a hamburger, both for 25 cents.

On March 21, 1941 he enlisted into the army at the age of 22. However, before I share with you what I have found out about this very brave leader in battle, I want to reflect on the man as I knew him. When our family moved from the farm to Zeeland during the summer of 1966, Uncle Eg’s house was on Garfield Street less than one block away. He was a quiet man that had a kind heart and incredible love and compassion for his wife Beatrice. “Aunt Beat” showed the signs of Parkinson for the entire time that my memory reaches back. He took care of his wife with much patience and tenderness. I admired him greatly for this.

I recall a time in 1968 when I was a sophomore in high school. Uncle Eg asked me to mow his lawn for him. He had one of the smallest lawns in the city and he could probably have mowed it himself, but did this to help me. I was not really excepting to get paid for the task. However, he did place some bills in my hand when the job was complete. When I saw how much it was I recall commenting that I thought it was more than I deserved for such a small lawn. He just replied that I did a good job and he appreciated me doing this for him. I am also mindful of all the kind things he did for my mother after my father died. That was the kind of man he was, unselfish and giving of himself to help others.

So, back to the beginning; on March 21, 1941 he enlisted into the army at the age of 22. His official enlistment record shares some facts with us. He enlisted as a private in Kalamazoo and indicated his occupation as a cabinet maker. He was single, had a grammar school education and was 5 feet 10 inches tall and weighed 162 pounds.

The fact that he enlisted prior to the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor is an indicator to me that he was a young patriot. He saw the newsreels in the theatre about the war going on in Europe and other places and must have wanted to serve his country. The first few days in the Army were spent relatively close to home at Camp Custer near Battle Creek Michigan. He then shipped out to Camp Roberts in California for his basic training. The day after the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, December 8, 1941 he was transferred to the Los Angeles area to guard the west coast in the event the Japanese tried to attach the mainland. He remained there until late May of 1942 when he went through more training at bases on the west coast. Officer Candidate School (O.C.S.) at Fort Knox, Kentucky followed from December 1942 until the end of March 1943. (to be continued)

Interview with (Uncle) David Vander Kooi

My notes from an interview with (Uncle) David Vander Kooi – August 17, 2010

Born July 29, 1921
Married Edith (Edie) Woodwyk on February 3, 1940 (Edie died on January 26, 1996)
Married Erna Vandewater – Warkentin on August 9, 1997
Since I am a novice at interviewing, I decided to use the book of photos that I put together for the Vander Kooi reunion in July of 2010 to guide us. The first photo is one of his dad (Johannes) taken in his young 20’s. [Per the 1920 Census, Johannes arrived in the US in 1903, at the age of 22. Dave did not know if the photo was taken in the Netherlands or in the US after he arrived]. However, after close examination of the original of the photo, it can faintly be seen that it was taken in Holland Michigan. I asked him about the broach with the photo of the women that is seen on his lapel. I mentioned that my mom understood this to be grandma’s photo on the broach. He said that he never noticed this before & could not confirm if this was his mother (My comment - but who else would it have been - it does look like Grandma when it is enlarged 800%). When I look at this picture of Johannes, I see myself at the same age. I am definitely his grandson – but his tie is much more awesome)


Dave and his brother Egbert were good friends with Juke and Tony Bartels (my dad and uncle) before my mother dated my father. Every Saturday night they would go to the Colonial Theater in Holland to see a movie and the newsreels of the war in Europe. After the dinner they would go to the very first Russ’ Restaurant to get chocolate milk and a hamburger for 25 cents. One weekend my dad decided to play “chicken” with his car with a friend (Bill Dewitt). My dad had a Model A and Bill had a new Chevy. Neither driver gave in and the “challenge” resulted in a head on accident. Fortunately, neither driver was hurt much but my dad’s car was totaled. Dad wound up buying the newly wrecked Chevy from Bill and they repaired it to a point where they entered it into a few races. This would have been 1938 or 1939.

Another time, dad and Egbert were horsing around with each of their cars. Dad started completing 180 degree turns by speeding down a gravel road, hitting the brakes and spinning the car around. When Uncle Eg tried this, he rolled his car and damaged it signifacantly. Uncle Dave helped dad & Eg repair the car.
Dave said that dad was a little wild in those days and my mother said that she would never ride with him in a car.

Faith was always important in the family life. At each meal Grandpa VDK would read the scripture and then prayed before leaving the table. This occurred regardless of who was visiting or what was happening around the house. The family attended Rusk Reformed Church until Dave was about 15 years old (1935/6). At that time, Grandpa Vander Kooi had bid to complete the custodial work at the church for $78 per year. Grandpa and Grandma VDK got to know the “Dominie” and his wife quite well and noticed that they acted quite differently during the week than on Sunday morning. This eventually was a major reason why they transferred to Ottawa Reformed Church. Reverend Tuisink was the first full time pastor at Ottawa Reformed Church.
The family lived on Fillmore St, west of 96th Ave. The house was built in 1919. The original mortgage for the 120 acre farm was $4,400. They lived there until Dave was 9 years old (1930) when the bank foreclosed on the farm.

The photo of all the Vander Kooi men (except Menno) includes Uncle Joe from Canada. He came for an extended stay. Uncle Dave thinks this photo was taken in 1928, when he was 7 years old. His brother George died in June of 1928 not all that long after this photo was taken. He died of double pneumonia at the age of 16. That early summer when they were working in the fields and garden, it was noted that George could not keep up with any of his brothers. This was the first sign of his illness.


Back row: George, Johannas (Grandpa), Jim, Uncle Jelle, Ben; front row, Dave and Egbert
In 1935, Grandpa VDK returned to the Netherlands to visit his mother and extended family. Originally he planned to visit for 2 months; however, this was extended to almost 3 months. This extended stay apparently was not popular with grandma. Great grandma apparently was rather well off in the Netherlands. However, in order to be able to purchase the tickets for the passage across the Atlantic, 2 heifers were sold to raise the needed $200. Great grandma reimbursed her son before he returned home so he could replace the heifers when he returned. She apparently thought that if she sent the money directly, that it would be used for other needs and she would not see her son in the end. The photo above my mom & grandpa were taken in 1935 before grandpa left for Europe.
Grandpa & grandma VDK moved to the house on the Southeast corner of Ottawa St and Garfield St in Zeeland about 1945. Grandpa, being a farmer, turned the garage into a chicken coop.


Uncle Dave left for the army on June 15, 1944. My dad left on June 21, 1944. Uncle Dave said that he and Dad were at Camp Sheridan near Chicago for boot camp at the same time, but they did not arrive the same day. Uncle Dave was not sure when the photo below was taken.

Dave Vander Kooi and Juke Bartels(1944 or 1945)

To be continued................................................